Police say a Pittsburgh man who was taken into the home of a New Kensington friend because he had no place to stay assaulted the friend repeatedly and kept him from escaping his own home.

Police say Darius Delaine Smalls, 29, then fought with police when they answered the distress call.

Smalls is facing a number charges related to assaulting and restraining a New Kensington friend who tried to leave his own house Friday, March 5 into Saturday, according to New Kensington police.

Police received a phone call about a man being assaulted and held against his will. When officers arrived they heard a man screaming for help from the second floor of the home on Freeport Road.

Police forced their way into the home and found the victim, who had bruises and cuts all over his face and a large bite mark on the right side of his chest.

The man told police that Smalls arrived late that night because he needed a place to stay. But Smalls began fighting with the resident, who then attempted to leave, according to police.

Smalls at six different times tried to restrain his friend and prevent him from leaving, attacking him, pulling his hair, choking and punching him, police said. Smalls also used a belt to try to choke his friend, according to police.

The resident told police Smalls was hiding upstairs. Police found him hiding in a closet.

Smalls punched a New Kensington police officer in the arm and scratched his other arm multiple times as the officer tried to remove Smalls from the closet, according to the police complaint.

Police had to shock Smalls with a Taser gun to subdue him and take him into custody.

Smalls faces charges of assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and others.

Smalls was taken to the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of $25,000 straight bond.

Smalls’ preliminary hearing before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. in New Kensington is set for March 25.

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